This weekend was so refreshing! Daniel and I were both off Saturday and we spent the day doing just everyday things: working out, cooking, cleaning. Some people don't enjoy these things, but we have been so busy lately that I was craving a "normal" weekend. Living in NYC is so fun, but I also have to remind myself that we live here. So it's okay not to go out to eat or spend a ton of money doing something fun or adventurous in the city every weekend. We live here, so we need to treat it like home and need those weekends with nothing on the agenda. This was one of those weekends and I loved it!

The rest of the day it was beautiful! We even laid out on the roof for a bit. Since the day turned out to be so pretty and we had worked out in that morning, I knew I wanted something light, but filling, with a glass of rose on the roof for dinner! Inspired by SkinnyTaste, this chicken teriyaki zoodle dish happened and I'm so glad it did! I don't have the best zoodler, so the noodles aren't as picture worthy as I would hope, but still tasty! Take a look...

Happy summer, friends!! {Or almost summer to us here in the northeast} Y’all know I enjoy sharing recipes and putting a healthier spin on things, but I also LOVE to set the table and have dinner parties! It’s probably the southerner in me, but even in our small, one-bedroom NYC apartment, I try to host and set the table whenever I can. It honestly brings me joy!

Living in NYC has been an adjustment, for sure. Even after 3 years, I still miss things from home in Alabama and one of those things is cooking out. We don’t have backyards in the city, or even front yards for that matter, but we DO have rooftops! Daniel recently bought a {tiny, rooftop-sized} grill for us to use on the roof and we have had several cookouts already. When Beatriz Ball reached out to partner with me, I was first thrilled because I already use and love their pieces!! And second, I thought a summer grill out would be so fun with their collection. I just love how their pieces can be used for a nice dinner party or to add some elegance to an outdoor BBQ!! I think this mix of nice and casual is perfect for the season! Not to mention, I'm obsessed with lemon patterns right now so I'm looking for any excuse to use this tablecloth :) Take a look...

I love the weekend for many reasons, but mainly because I love cooking breakfast! During the week, it is mainly smoothies and yogurts because I'm running out the door. But the weekends when I don't have to work, I get to cook an actual meal. I love waking up on Saturdays, taking the pups for a walk and coming home, opening the windows, playing some music and getting creative in the kitchen. This asparagus hash was inspired by a dish from SkinnyTaste, and turned out so tasty. Take a look...

Happy FriYAY!! What better way to kick off the weekend than with breakfast pizza?! I have a homemade pizza dough recipe that I found years ago and now Daniel and I enjoy homemade pizza wayyyy more than restaurant pizza. I make it with regular flour or whole wheat flour. I haven't tried it with an alternative flour yet (like almond flour), but I'm sure it would be good! You can see some of our pizza creations on the blog, such as lemon white pizza with brussels sprouts & pancetta and pesto chicken pizza.

Per usual, this pizza was created from left over ingredients and I got SO excited because I made a sauce that is perfect for this dish!! When you combine pizza, eggs and a Mexican flare you can't really go wrong! Happy to finally be sharing this dish! Take a look...

Y'all know I love all things Mexican. So why I haven't made my own salsa before? I have no idea!! I live off salsa and avocados. It might be a problem, actually. There is this restaurant in my hometown of Enterprise, Alabama, that has the greatest salsa!!! Anytime my sisters and I go home someone will go pick up a pint {or two} of it so we can eat it all weekend. No lie. That salsa is far above anything you can find in a store. Trust me, I think I have tried every salsa out there. Finally, it hit me to make my own and I must say, this is the closest I have come to THAT salsa. Even Daniel kept saying how good it was. The good thing about it is that it gets better as it sits. The flavors blend and it is heaven on a chip! I have been taking it every day with my lunch to work. And then snacking on it when I get home. All you do is throw everything in a food processors and BAM, salsa! Plus, it's easy to enjoy knowing all the ingredients are fresh. Did you know a lot of salsas have added sugar? Yep, but not this one, so indulge without the guilt! Take a look...

This stuffed chicken was one of the recipes I was playing around with this weekend and it turned out delicious!!! Since I don't eat seafood {I know, I'm working on it}, I am always trying to find ways to dress up lean protein, because let's face it I basically eat chicken and turkey {and beef on occasion}. This was such an easy way to transform the chicken and was literally packed with flavor {see what I did there;P}. I know, #dork. I served the chicken over chickpea pasta with some infused olive oil and both Daniel and I devoured it. It was light, but filling all at the same time. Take a look...

Alright, I would be lying if I said I haven't longed for pearly white teeth. I am always looking for ways to whiten my teeth that are affordable and convenient. I love to smile, and having white teeth gives me more confidence to share a smile, especially on the streets of New York where not many people exchange the pleasantry. Because I love to cook, I try a lot of foods and beverages, many which can stain your teeth {red sauces, tea, red wine}. I have tried to get my teeth professionally whitened, but it was SO expensive I couldn't go back more than once. I have tried getting them whitened under that crazy neon light for a hour and my lip swelled up {not joking}, and I have even tried white strips, but can never actually keep them on my teeth. Clearly, white teeth is something I desire. Well folks, I found a way to whiten your teeth at home that is easy and budget friendly!! Take a look...

This Friday is Cinco de Mayo!!! And did you think I would let it go by without a post?! I think we, and by we I mean me, get more excited about this in America than in Mexico. It is probably just a campaign Mexican restaurants started to get Americans to spend a lot of money, and it worked! Haha. If you follow my recipes, you know I naturally gravitate towards Mexican dishes, sometimes without even trying! Black beans and tomatoes are something I always keep in my pantry. In honor of this celebrated day, I have rounded up some of my favorite Mexican style dishes here on Lyra & Jane. I hope you enjoy!!

I have a confession. I did not own a cast iron skillet until recently. As in about a month or so ago! This recipe turned out great and hit the spot!! Even though it is vegetarian, you still get a good amount of protein from the beans and the quinoa! I served mine over lettuce with salsa and it was the perfect combination. You could serve it on a bun, but the patties aren't super thick so the bread to "meat" ratio may be a little off. Either way, I ate this for dinner and lunch the next day and wanted more AND I got to use my cast iron skillet. Take a look...

As much as I try to eat healthier most of the time, I'm human and love queso and pizza just like the next girl. One thing that is always hard for me to resist on a menu is bolognese. It is always so delicious and comforting {see this yummy sausage bolognese I made here}. One think I enjoy almost more than bolognese, is taking my favorite dishes and putting a healthier twist on them. This is one of those recipes. I had leftover insides from tomatoes & some fresh basil I used forthis incredible stuffed tomatoes with homemade cashew pesto recipe, and I wanted to use them before they went bad. So, I threw some things together and it turned into this delicious turkey bolognese!! Take a look...